Cisco appoints Pete Shimer to board & audit committee

Cisco has appointed Pete Shimer to its board of directors, effective immediately. He will also serve on the board's Audit Committee.

Shimer joins after a 40-year career at Deloitte, where he held senior leadership roles spanning operations, finance, strategy and corporate development. He spent a decade in the firm's C-suite, including as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and interim Chief Executive Officer, giving him oversight of large-scale organisational change, financial management and strategic planning.

He also brings boardroom experience from outside Deloitte. Shimer currently serves on the boards of Alaska Airlines, Korn Ferry and Synopsys, and is Executive Chair of the Cancer Artificial Intelligence Alliance.

Audit committee role

His appointment to the Audit Committee adds further financial and operational experience to one of the board's central oversight groups, which typically covers financial reporting, internal controls and risk management.

His selection comes as large technology companies continue to refresh their boards with directors experienced in transformation programmes, finance and AI-related strategy. At major listed groups, board appointments have increasingly focused on executives who combine operational leadership with experience managing change across global organisations.

In announcing the move, Cisco highlighted Shimer's work in enterprise transformation, strategic planning and digital innovation, linking that background to its position in network infrastructure and its efforts to meet AI-driven demand.

"We're delighted to welcome Pete to Cisco's board," said Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO, Cisco. "His four decades of experience leading large global organizations and guiding clients through digital transformation brings invaluable insight at a critical moment, as Cisco delivers the critical infrastructure powering AI innovation worldwide."

Shimer spent his career at Deloitte, one of the world's largest professional services firms, where senior executives often work across consulting, finance and firmwide management. His tenure in several top operating roles marks him as a director with experience in both day-to-day execution and board-level oversight.

Board experience

Outside his corporate roles, Shimer has held positions across educational and healthcare institutions. He is an Executive Committee board member at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Centre and the University of Washington Foster School of Business, and previously served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the University of Washington Foundation.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from the University of Washington, a background that aligns with the financial oversight duties of his role on Cisco's Audit Committee.

The appointment adds another director with deep finance credentials to Cisco's board at a time when listed technology groups face close investor scrutiny over spending, margins and strategy. Audit committee roles have also drawn increased attention as companies navigate regulatory demands, cyber risks and large capital commitments tied to data infrastructure.

Cross-sector exposure

Shimer's non-executive positions at Alaska Airlines, Korn Ferry and Synopsys suggest familiarity with oversight across sectors including aviation, executive search and semiconductor design software. That mix gives him exposure to industries managing digital change, cost pressures and shifts in demand.

For Cisco, the appointment strengthens a leadership group expected to oversee both financial discipline and long-term strategy as the company competes in markets shaped by cloud computing, security and AI investment.